Quick-break electric switch.



No. 64mm. Patented 1an. 23, moo.

W. F. BOSSERT& G. L. HOLTN.

QUICK BREAK.A ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application le Mar. 7, 1899.)\ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WJTNES'SES INVENTORS No. 64:,927. -Patent@ 1an. 2s, |900. w. F.Bossi-:RT & L. HoLToN. QUICK BBE-AK ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application led Mar. 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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MTE, STATES PATENT FFICE..

WILLIAM F. BOSSERT AND GEORGE L. I-IOLTON, OF UTICA, N EW YORK,ASSIGNORS TO THE BOSSERT ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

QUICK-,BREAK ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,92*?, dated January23, 1900.

Application filed March 7, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. BOS- sERT and GEORGE L. HoLToN, citizensof the United States, residing at Utica-,in the county of Oneida andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inQuick-Break Electric Switches; and we do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thefigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The present invention relates to switch apparatus of the class whichoperates by a quick action, reducing arcing to the smallest amountpossible. In this type of electric switches the blades are operated by aspring action upon operating the device to break the circuit. Theactuating-spring is compressed by the switch -lever, the switchbladesbeing retarded by the frictional engagement between their contacts andthe fixed contacts until the spring has been compressed. Thisconstruction results in a rapid wearing away of the engaging surfacesand requires constant attention to maintain the switch in primecondition. Moreover, the switch is difficult of operation and when largeand multipolar considerable force is required to manipulate the lever.

This invention is intended to providea positive lock for theswitch-blades, thereby enabling the spring to be compressed to adeterminate degree prior to the release of the locking means,whereby theswitch-blades will act instantly; to obviate the binding action betweenthe contacts and switchblades; to provide an automatic release for theswitch-blades to insure an engagement of the adjacent surfaces of therelativelymovable parts throughout their extent; to provide anadjustment for companion switchblades, and to improve the generalconstruction, whereby the switch can be more easily operated and iscertain in action.

The improvement will be described in detail hereinafter, pointed outmore particu- Serial No. 708,067. (No model.)

larly inthe appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multipolarswitch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts beingbroken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line w 5v of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a front View. Fig. 5 isa plan view of the throw-plate. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of theauxiliary plate inverted. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a springinterposed between the switch-blade and the base. Fig. 8 is a section onthe line y y of Fig. 7, showing also the position of post 2. Fig. 9 is asection on the line z a' of Fig. l.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The base l is ofinsulating material, such as marble, slate, vulcanite,artificial stone, or the like. The hinge-posts 2 and terminal or contactposts 3 and 4 aline and are secured at their lower ends to the base inany manner. These several posts 2, 3, and 4 are composed of companionand corresponding parts, which enter the spaces formed between theblades of each pair of switchblades. The upper ends of the posts 2 and 3are cut square across, whereas the posts 4 have their ends inclinedrearwardly to distribute the current throughout their extent at theinstant of closing or interrupting the circuit. Notches 5 are providedin the front edges of the posts '4. near their upper ends to cooperatewith dogs 6, applied to the guidearms 17.

The switch-blades 8 are disposed in pairs, and two pairs constituteagroup, each group comprising four blades coupled to move as a unit. Thenumber of pairs in each group may be varied according to the requiredcapacity of the switch. It is highlyimportant that the blades of a pairbe arranged so as to come upon opposite sides of corresponding andalining posts. Adjusting bolts or screws 9 connect the blades of theseveral pairs at points in their length, so as to insure a firmconnection being secured and maintained between them and the sides ofthe terminal posts 3 and 4. The blades 8 when comparatively thin andwide, as shown, are connected by a plurality of adjusters 9, distributedthroughout the width of the blades and arranged so as to come in thefront and in the rear of the respective posts 3 and 4, whereby thedifferent parts of the blades can be adj listed so as to cause them toengage throughout the surface extent opposite the posts with the latter.The portions of the blades opposite the posts are longitudinallyslotted, as shown at 10, rendering them more flexible, and the strips11, formed by the said slots, are independently adjustable toward andfrom corresponding strips by means of the adjusters 9, located at theends of the respective strips.

A bolt 12 pivotally connects the switchblades of a group to the membersof the posts 2, and compensating washers 13 are mounted upon the ends ofthe bolt and are confined between the head and the nut thereof and therear wings 14 of an auxiliary plate l5. The washers 13, being of thecompensating variety, hold the wings 14 against the sides of the post 2,even though the securing-nut of the bolt should accidentally back. Aspacing-washer 16 is mounted on the bolt between the two pairs ofswitch-blades and holds the inner blades against the inner sides of themembers of the post 2.

A guide-arm 17 is rigidly attached to the outer or free end of theswitch-blades, and its upper end is apertured to receive a pin 1S,having its ends projecting beyond the edges of the arm to form stops,which engage with portions of the spring 19, which exerts a downwardpressure on the plate 20. Vertical slots 21 are formed in the arm andreceive the dogs or catches 6, mountedA midway of their ends upon pinspassing through the arm and across the slots 2l. Aspring 22, secured tothe arm, bears upon the dogs and normally holds them in engagement withthe post 4. The lower ends of the dogs are curved rearwardly andterminate in hooks, which interlock with the post by entering thenotches 5. The upper ends of the dogs curve forwardly and normallyproject outwardly from the plane of the arm, so as to be engaged by theplate 2O at the proper time and permit of the quick action of the spring19.

The throw-plate 20 is pivoted to the post 2 and switch-blades 8 by thebolt 12 through the wings 14 of the auxiliary plate 15, and its forwardend has an opening 23,tl1rough which the arm 17 passes.Oppositely-disposed notches 24 and 25 are formed in the edges of theplate to receive the bent-up portions 26 and 27 of the auxiliary plate15, whereby the two plates are mutually self-bracing. When the switch ismultipolar, as shown, the several throw-plates are connected in seriesby the bar 2S, electrically insulated from each of the throw-plates andhaving the handles 29 applied thereto.

The auxiliary plate l5 is attached to the under side of the throw-plate,and its edge portions are bent to form the wings 14, the bent-upportions 2G and 27, and the contactwings 30 and 31. The contact-wings 30and v3l are subdivided by vertical slits 32 to insure a better contactof the engaging surfaces. The lower ends ofthe wings 3l are inclined ina reverse direction to the inclined end of the post for a like purpose-.c., to secure a maximum amount of engaging surface at the instant ofmaking or breaking the circuit.

The spring 19 is notched at its free end to receive the arm 17 and theseparated portions embracing the edges of the arm engage with theprojecting end portions of the pin 18. This spring 19 is rigidlyattached at its rear end to the throw-plate by means of a bolt 33, thelatter passing through them and the auX- iliary plate 15.

The switch when closed is locked by the dogs 6. Upon operating thethrow-plate the spring 19 is compressed, and just prior to thethrow-plate reaching the limit of movement relative to the spring 19 itwill engage with the upper ends of the dogs G and move them in andeffect a release of the dogs from the post 4. The switchblades beingreleased will move quickly and interrupt the circuit by a snap action,due to the action of the spring 19 regaining itself. The switch-bladesare not retarded in their action by the frictional contact between themand the terminal posts, as is the case with the switches of this type asheretofore generally constructed when operating the switch to break thecircuit and which has been found objectionable.

It is proposed in some instances to interpose a spring betweenaswitch-blade and the base. Fig. 7 illustrates such a construction, twosprings 34 and 35 being shown. The springs are substantially of U form,the members of the spring 35 being straight and parallel and the memberscr legs of the spring 34 being defiected outwardly between their endsand bearingl against the inner sides of the members of the spring 35.vThe members or legs ot' the springs are slotted and slipped upon thepost 2 and the springs are oppositely disposed and arranged the onewithin the other. The object of the spring 35 is to press with itsextremities upwardly against the blade pivoted to post 2 and throwsaidblade upwardly when it is withdrawn from the latch. The spring 34reinforces spring 35.

The invention can be applied to a single, double, or multipolar switchwhether comprising a single or a series of switch-blades. Therefore itis to be understood that changes in form, proportion, and the minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thenature of the invention when adapting it to any particular kind, make,or Variety of switch.

IOS)

IIO

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. An electric switch comprising fixed contacts, a switch-blade, athrow-plate, a spring arranged above the throw-plate and a lockingdevice carried by the switch-blade adapted to engage one of saidcontacts, and having a portion extending within the path of thethrowplate.

2. An electric switch comprising fixed contacts, a switch-blade, athrow-plate, a spring arranged above the throw-plate, a guide-armprojecting from the switch-plate, and a locking device pivotally securedto said guide-arm adapted to engage one of said contacts, and

having a projection extending within the path of the throw-plate.

3. In electric-switch apparatus comprising fixed contacts, aswitch-blade, a throw-plate, and an actuating-spring, a locking deviceapplied to the switch-blade and interlocking with one of the contactsand having a portion extending within the path of the throw-plate to beengaged thereby and effect a release of the switch-blade.

4. In electric-switch apparatus comprising fixed contacts, aswitch-blade, a throw-plate, and an actuating-spring, a guide-armprojecting from the switch-blade, and a dog pivoted to the guide-arm andadapted to interlock with one of the said contacts and having a portionextending within the path of the throw-lever to be struck thereby andautomatically release the switch-blade.

5. In electric-switch apparatus comprising fixed contacts, aswitch-blade, a throw-plate, and an actuating-spring a guide-armprojecting from the switch-blade and having a vertical slot, a dogpivoted midway of its ends within the said slot and interlocking at itslower end with one of the said terminals, and having its upper endextending within the path of the throw-plate to be engaged thereby, anda spring for holding the dog in a normal position.

6. In electric-switch apparatus, front and rear contacts provided inpairs, coperating pairs of switch-blades, a guide-arm applied to theouter or front ends of the switch-blades and having parallel slots, anactuatin g-spring,

a throw-plate, dogs pivoted medially within the slots of the guide-armand engaging with the front contacts and automaticaly released by thethrow-plate, and a spring for the dogs to hold them in normal position.

7 In electrical-switch apparatus, fixed terminals, in combination with apair of switchblades adapted to embrace the sides of the said terminalsand having longitudinal slots in transverse alinement and in position tocome opposite the terminals, and means adj ust-ably connecting theseparated portions of the switch-blades at their ends.

S. In electrical-switch apparatus, fixed termina-ls, in combination withapair of switchblades having portions longitudinally slotted and adaptedto embrace the sides of the said terminals, means adjustably connectingthe parts separated by the slots, and a throwplate having pairs ofslotted contacts embracing the slotted portions of the switch-blades.

9. An electric switch comprising fixed contacts, and a throw platehaving contacts adapted to overlap said fixed contacts; a switch-blade;a lock-spring bearing upon said throw-plate; a guide-arm carried by theswitch-blade; a pivoted locking device for engaging one of the fixedcontacts and projecting in the path of the throw-plate to be releasedthereby.

lO. In electrical-switch apparatus, the combination with fixedterminals, and a throwplate having opposite notches in its edges, of anauxiliary plate having bent-up portions entering the said notches of thethrow-plate, and having pairs of integral wings.

11. In electrical-switch apparatus, the combination with a hingepost,and a switchblade, of an approximately U-shaped spring having itsmembers slotted and slipped upon the hinge-post and anoppositely-disposed auxiliary spring engaging the inner faces thereof.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM F. BOSSERT. GEORGE L. HOLTON.

Witnesses:

FRED T. FoxENBERGER, LORIMER D. MILLER..

